Automatically-adjustable bracelet or belt.



No. 794,193. PATENTED JULY 11, 1905.

' I J: J: AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE BRACELET 0R BELT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. 1905.

Nrrnn STATES Patented July 11, 1905.

PATENT Orrrcn.

JOHN J. SOMMER, OF NORTH ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,193, dated. July 11, 1905.

Application filed April 5,1905. Serial No. 254,056.

To (1.7] whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OIIN J. SOMMER, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at North Attleboro, Bristol county, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatically-Adjustable Bracelets or Belts, of which the following is a specification sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of flexible metallic bracelets, belts, and the like in which springs tend constantly to retract pivotally connected levers into a normal position, as in my Letters Patent No. 781,969, dated February 7, 1905, on which the present invention is an improvement.

The object is to simplify and cheapen the manufacture and at the same time render the device more effective and attractive in use; and the invention consists in the construc tion and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed specifically.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a bracelet, belt, or like article made according to my invention, the parts being shown as in the normal or contracted osition. Fig. 2 is a view of the same eXtende Fig. 3 is a front elevation of one of the outer or front levers or members; Fig. 4, a rear view of the same. Fig. 5 is an edge view thereof; Fig. 6, a view of one of the springs. Fig. 7 is an edge view of the inner or rear levers or members; Fig. 8, a front elevation thereof. Figs. 9 and 10 are respectively a rear view and an elevation of one of the caps. Figs. 11 and 12 are respectively side and edge views of a cap-disk. Figs. 13 and 14 are respectively elevations, upon an enlarged scale, of two connected levers or members taken from the inner or rear side with the cap-disk removed and illustrating the two extremes in position' Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14, showing the cap-disk in position, but partly broken away, and the inner member also partly broken away to show the spring-chamber. Fig. 16 is a section taken upon plane of line 16 16, Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a section taken upon plane of line 17 17, Fig. 14.

In the drawings, B may be designated. as the inner or rear lever or member, and F as the outer or front lever or member, the two being pivotally connected centrally, as by a fulcrum f on the inner side of the front mem ber F projecting through a hole 1), formed in the rear member B for its reception, or vice versa, if desired, since the fulcrum may be formed upon either member with like result. The outer member preferablyis formed with a central compartment or spring-chamber for the accommodation of a spiral spring 8 around the fulcrum f. One end of this spring .9 engages a shoulder f Figs. 4 and 15, on the front member F, while the other end of the spring is connected with the inner member B, as by passing this end of the spring into a hole or recess 6, formed for its reception, or by any other mechanical expedient.

C is a cap fitting over the spring-chamber f and straddling the front member F, the cap being formed with recesses c c for this purpose, the sides of the recesses acting as shoulders which snugly clasp the adjoining parts of the outer member F, so that the said cap C becomes practically a part thereof, moving with it and having no lateral play or motion thereon. The levers F may be also formed with notches f Figs. 3 and 17, for the reception of the adjoining edges of the cap C. The depth of the cap C is such that its inner edges extend beyond both the outer member F and the inner member B, so that it may be closed by a disk (1 fitted thereto and secured in position by any suitable or wellknown means, the inner member projecting through slots 4 i, formed between the edges of the disk 61 and the recessed sides of the cap 0, the ends of the slots constituting shoulders or stops 0 c, which limit the movement of the rear lever B upon and with relation to the outer or face lever or member B.

The coiled spring 8 by reason of its connection with and interposition between the front and rear members F and B tends constantly to hold the parts in their normal positions, as in Figs. 1, 14, 15, and 16, so that when the parts are forcibly extended they will automatically retract when released. The limitation of movement effected by the shoulders upon the cap protects the device against undue or dangerous extension and preserves the life and integrity of the retractile springs. In practice it is not necessary to apply the spring to each pair of levers.

I have herein shown and described the spring-chamber and cap as circular in form, although this is not essential, since the rear lever B is simply movable upon the front lever F within the limits prescribed by the shoulders c 0, so that an oval or even square or other preferred form of spring-chamber and cap may be formed with like result in so far as the mechanical operation of the parts is concerned. The outer ends of the levers F and B are pivoted or otherwise coupled to the adjacent ends of the corresponding levers on either side, as heretofore.

It is obvious that the construction and relation of the parts may be reversed, if so desired, in that in so far as the operation is concerned it is not material whether the springchamber is formed on the outer lever, as herein described, or upon the inner or rear lever, and I do not limit myself in this respect.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In adevice of the character designated, a pair of pivotally-connected levers one formed with a spring-chamber, a spring in said chamber connected with both levers, and a cap fitting over and attached to said spring charrk ber, and formed with shoulders for limiting the movement of said levers with relation to each other for the purpose set forth.

2. In a device of the character designated, a pair of pivotally-connected levers, the outer one formed with a spring-chamber. a spring in said spring-chamber connected with and interposed ;between the outer and inner levers, and a cap fitting over the outer lever and its spring-chamber, and formed with shoulders for limiting the motion of the le vers upon and with relation to each other, for the purpose described.

JOHN J. SOMMER.

Witnesses:

D. W. GARDNER, GEO. WM. MIATT. 

